ED REVIEW

March 12, 2004

...a bi-weekly update on U.S. Department of Education activities relevant

to the Intergovernmental and Corporate community and other stakeholders
________________________________________________________

NCLB UPDATE (http://www.ed.gov/nclb/)

Over the last two weeks, the Department has released a variety of No Child Left Behind
guidance. On March 2, in a letter to Chief State School Officers
(http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/csso030204.html), Assistant Secretary for
Elementary and Secondary Education Ray Simon outlined a process for states to follow
if they wish to seek an exception to the one percent cap for students with the most
severe cognitive disabilities using alternate assessments. "We expect that it will be
necessary to grant exceptions only for small increments above the one percent cap,"
Simon explained, "and that we will grant such exceptions only for a specified period of
time..." A school district may initiate an exception request, or a state may initiate a re-
quest on behalf of an district. But as states consider whether to permit any exceptions,
they should be mindful of how district exceptions will affect the overall one percent cap
that applies at the state level. "[The agency] will not grant an exception to the state
based on the state's liberal granting of exceptions to LEAs." Meanwhile, new guidance
is available for preschool services
(http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/preschoolguidance.pdf), and revised guidance is
out for paraprofessionals (http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/paraguidance.pdf) and
public school choice (http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/schoolchoiceguid.pdf). Also,
the Department has added a web site,
http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/stateletters/, that links to over 50 policy letters,
giving the public access to the guidance the agency is providing their states and allowing
states and districts to learn from each other. (Note: On Monday, the Department will
announce new flexibility under the No Child Left Behind Act's highly qualified teacher
provisions. Materials will be posted at http://www.ed.gov/.)

Secretary Paige is seeking public comment on a proposed regulation that would make it
easier for schools to offer -- and for parents to choose -- same-sex classes and schools.
In general, current Title IX regulations prohibit single-sex classes, except in very speci-
fic situations, such as physical education classes involving body contact or sex education.
Under the proposed amendments, schools would be permitted to offer single-sex classes
as long as participation is voluntary (for example, if a school offers AP physics for girls,
it must also offer a co-ed AP physics class) and fair. On the other hand, Title IX rarely
applies to school admissions; therefore, a school district does not need to justify offer-
ing single-sex schools -- as long as certain conditions are met to ensure that all students
have equal educational opportunities. Nevertheless, the proposed amendments would
increase the flexibility for districts that offer single-sex schools by allowing districts
to decide whether the opportunity offered for the excluded sex should be single-sex or
co-ed. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/proprule/2004-1/030904a.html.

In the near future, the Department will be sending out electronic information updates
specifically designed for classroom teachers. To receive the updates, simply send your
email address to Teachers@ed.gov.
________________________________________________________

TEACHER FORUM

The Department annually invites all 50 state Teachers of the Year to Washington, D.C.
The forum is an opportunity to exchange best practices on teaching methods that have
worked in improving student achievement. In addition, teachers were asked how the ag-
ency can best help them in their efforts to ensure that all children are learning. "In my
home, the Teacher of the Year award was more important than the Nobel Prize," Secre-
tary Paige said, citing his "family of teachers." "From my first day, I have insisted that
the Department of Education seek your views as our nation's teachers, listen to you, and
keep an open dialogue.... We need your wisdom and experience." FOR MORE
INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO
http://www.ed.gov/news/speeches/2004/03/03012004.html.
________________________________________________________

MATH AND SCIENCE

The next "Education News Parents Can Use" broadcast (March 16, 8:00-9:00 ET) will
discuss improving mathematics and science instruction. American students are lagging
behind in both subjects: one out of every three students in fourth-, eighth-, and
twelfth-grade performed at the lowest level on the most recent National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP) math assessment; a substantial achievement gap between
white students and their black and Hispanic peers persists in math (despite gains for all
three groups); and, in international math and science studies, students in nearly all other
industrialized nations outperform U.S. eighth-graders. Not surprisingly, states are also
reporting alarming gaps in the current number of math and science teachers meeting
highly qualified provisions under the No Child Left Behind Act. Yet, the situation is ripe
for improvement. States are revising their math and science standards, and projections
indicate the U.S. will need 240,000 new math and science teachers this decade -- all of
whom must be highly qualified under the law. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO
TO http://registerevent.ed.gov/downlink/event-flyer.asp?intEventID=174. (Remember,
you can watch live and archived webcasts of each show at
http://www.connectlive.com/events/ednews/.)
________________________________________________________

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Deadlines are fast approaching for a number of grant competitions. The Excellence in
Economic Education Program awards a single grant to a national non-profit organization
that has as its primary purpose improvement of the quality of student understanding of
economics and personal finance (closes 4/16). Pre-applications under the Early Reading
First Program, which is open to high-need school districts
(http://www.ed.gov/programs/earlyreading/eligibility.html) and public and private
organizations within those districts, are due April 22. Complementing the formula-
driven Reading First Program, Early Reading First supports local efforts to enhance
the oral language, cognitive, and early reading skills of pre-school children, especially
those from low-income families, through strategies, materials, and professional develop-
ment. The State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grants Program encourages states
to develop and expand per-pupil facilities aid programs and to share in the costs related
to the operation and management of charter schools (closes 7/1).
http://www.ed.gov/GrantApps/ lists all the competitions that are currently underway
and provides links to electronic application packages, forms, and other key information.
________________________________________________________
 COLLEGES ONLINE

The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) College Opportunities

On-Line (COOL) is a direct link to nearly 7,000 colleges and universities in the country.
Whether for large universities, small liberal arts colleges, specialized schools,
community colleges, career or technical colleges, or trade schools, IPEDS COOL offers
information on enrollment, awards/degrees conferred, cost (updated for 2003-04) and
financial aid, accreditation, and campus crime statistics. And, for the first time, it has
graduation rates based on first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students;
the rate is broken down by bachelor's degree-seeking students, gender, and race. FOR
MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool/.
________________________________________________________

MANAGING INFORMATION

Attention records and information management specialists! The National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA) is inviting written views on issues related to implement-
ing Section 207(e)(1)(A) of the E-Government Act of 2002. NARA is particularly
interested in feedback on the following topics:

• The definition of "Government information on the Internet and other electronic rec-
ords."
• Perceived barriers to effective management of "Government information on the
Internet and other electronic records."
• Guidance tools for federal agencies that would assist in overcoming the barriers
identified above.

Any comments should be sent to ERPWG@nara.gov no later than April 5. FOR MORE
INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/20
04/04-5091.htm.
________________________________________________________
 QUOTE TO NOTE

"An equal chance can be given through choice. It is right and just to make choice
available to students and parents. Some are overtly denied education, like John Hurt
[who was seven-years-old when his school closed, rather than accept the end of segre-
gation, and never recovered]. Others are covertly denied, millions of students who are
not given a chance or a choice. Let us end indifference and disregard, uniting our
country through the power of knowledge, the moral equity of our institutions, and
the inclusive message of our learning environment. That's how this country will best
provide educational, political, and cultural leadership for its citizens and for the rest of
the world."
-- Secretary of Education Rod Paige (3/5/04)
________________________________________________________

UPCOMING EVENTS

Don't forget! The Department is sponsoring seven regional high school summits to help
state teams strengthen outcomes for youth and improve high schools. The next summit
is March 26-27 in Atlanta, Georgia, for teams from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,
Mississippi, the Carolinas, and Tennessee. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/hsinit/regional.doc.

On April 21, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the White House and the Departments of
Education, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development,
Justice, and Labor are hosting a conference to help faith-based and community organ-
izations learn more about President Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiative. FOR
MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.fbci.gov/. (Note: The deadline for
registration is April 12.)
________________________________________________________

Please feel free to contact the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs with any questions:
Deputy Assistant Secretary -- Ken Meyer, (202) 401-0404, mailto:Ken.Meyer@ed.gov
Program Analyst -- Adam Honeysett, (202) 401-3003, mailto:Adam.Honeysett@ed.gov
To be added or removed from distribution, or submit comments (we welcome your feedback!),
please contact Adam Honeysett. Or, visit http://www.ed.gov/news/newsletters/edreview/.